Friday, October 31, 2014

In the past few months one of our old contacts has moved back into the area and has started coming to church again. She has a new man in her life who has been coming to church along with her. We had noticed how attentive he was during the messages and Bible studies and recently James had a really interesting conversation with him.

James: Where do you think you stand in relationship to God?

Friend: I am understanding the word and trying to change and live according to what it teaches.

This response raised a red flag so James went into the Gospel with him.

James: We come into this world dead in our sins -

Friend: nodded in agreement

James: Like the story of Lazarus --

Friend: I remember that from the message last week.

James: Like Lazarus, before you can LIVE the new life you have to be given the new life by Jesus. Dead people can't do anything for Jesus Christ.

Friend: I think that has happened to me.

As James and he continued to talk, he led James to believe that he had received new life. We can never know the heart of anyone but we are excited to think that he may have been saved!

We praise the Lord for His Sovereign work in calling dead men out of the tomb to New Life in Christ!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Saturday, October 11, 2014

This month our teens went to minister at a nursing home on the Island. Although the visit was scheduled and approved by the director their arrival was met with cold indifference.

"I am busy right now and cannot help you. Go find someone else to help you."

the director said to us without looking up from what she was writing.

We later learned she was heading at the door to her Spiritist meeting held in a large building behind the nursing home.

Our teens were nervous but had prepared with a time of prayer before arriving and so they went in to meet with these precious souls who desperately need New Life in Christ.

To see Rafael, (the one who was hit by a car in January) approach these people and offer to pray with them and read a passage of Scripture to them was such a blessing. All the young people were surprised to see that many of older people could no longer speak and were confined to their beds. But the hope that God could save one of these souls as they lay and listened to the Words of Life was what gave them courage.

Karine was very nervous about approaching the people and sharing the Gospel.
She sat down next to two ladies and as she introduced herself one of the ladies said,
"Go away! I don't want to talk to you."
Karine didn't know what to do so she turned and looked to the other lady who shared her name and acted friendly.
Karine then looked back to the other lady to ask her name and she rudely snapped
"I said, get out of here, I don't want to talk to you."
The nicer lady apologized for her friend and continued to talk with Karine.
Karine went on to share the Gospel with this lady while the other sat in silence,
listening, and interestingly, not moving way.
Karine prays that the Lord will use the truth of the Gospel to penetrate the hard heart of this woman.

Another interesting encounter happened when one of the residents shared that she was a believer in Jesus Christ. When asked about her testimony she replied that she has been forbidden to talk about Jesus with the other residents. But she shared that she secretly shares with those who share her room.

This nursing home is served by a community of committed spiritists who are doing their best for these elderly in order to guarantee a better "next life" for themselves. These precious elderly people are weekly exposed to the powers of darkness. They wear special jewelry (beads, etc.) that have been blessed and are supposed to keep away sickness and curses. Many of these elderly have been "healed" by the spiritist healers.

James had the opportunity to preach on John 3.16 while at the nursing home and we praise the Lord that we were able to wage a small battle against the darkness that is blinding the eyes of these people.

Monday, October 06, 2014

This year we have done less "formal" evangelism projects at our church. Instead James has focused on equipping and encouraging our people to reach out to the people God has placed in their lives; neighbors, friends, family, co-workers and so on. We are so excited to see how God is working in our people to be a light to those around them.

We recently teamed up to go bowling with one of our church families and their new neighbors. It was a fun time of getting to know one another but also to talk about the Gospel. God has used His body at IBR to reach into the lives of this couple to share the Gospel; to share that our salvation is secured in Christ alone and not by our continued efforts of obedience.

These encounters are a great reminder of how believers can work together to be Christ to the nations!

How can you team up with someone from your church to reach out to an unbelieving friend?

The Taylors

Daniel, Hannah & Jer

About Me

We are the Taylors. We have 3 children, Daniel, Hannah, Jeremiah and are missionaries in Brazil. Our hearts desire is to grow in our relationship with our heavenly Father, living zealously for Him. Sharing the precious hope of salvation with those who are blinded by the lies of this world.